Ainslie Henderson @ The Lot

That elusive heatwave is once again upon us and the best way to greet it must be to squeeze yourself into an old church that was constructed long before air-conditioning as we know it was invented. Most importantly, we do so tonight because the event on the agenda proves too good to ignore. Launching his debut album 'Growing Flowers By Candlelight', Ainslie Henderson and his band of bohemians wash over us like a swift breeze and manage to spellbind the audience from the first second. Ainslie himself provides intimate acoustics that, combined with his fragile and sensitive voice brings Damien Rice to mind but before we know it his band backs him up with enough orchestral pleasantries to put a personal touch to the spectacle. Tonight proves that Mr Henderson has talent by the bucket load, although it's slightly too polished and radio-friendly for an indie-puritan like myself to let go completely. [Chris Nordeng]